- Ona Carbonell decided to leave her breastfed son behind when heading to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
- When she leaves him, she will suck milk and hope that he can breastfeed after the reunion.
- Carbonell is not the only athlete facing this decision.
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Ona Carbonell, a member of the Spanish Artistic Swimming Olympic Team, said she had to keep her breastfed son at home because Strict restrictions imposed As Japan Coronavirus disease.
Carbonell told Reuters that she was “disappointed and disillusioned” at having to make a choice.
“In order for me to breastfeed Kai when I need it during the day, I had to leave the Olympic villa, the team’s bubble, and go to the hotel, risking the team’s health. I had to make a very difficult decision… …Because the mandatory measures of the Japanese government are incompatible with my athletic performance and the time spent with my family,” Carbonell tOld Reuters.
The swimmer was initially told that she could not take her son to the competition at all. She and her coach asked the International Olympic Committee to allow her to do so.
Two weeks ago, they allowed her son to travel with her, but must abide by the regulations set by the Japanese government. The government is allowing the families of all athletes to live in hotels outside the Olympic villas. They are not allowed to leave the rooms while in Tokyo.
Carbonell also said that he had to leave the villa many times a day to feed her son, which would not only disrupt her training but also her teammates. In addition, she will leave their bubble, putting everyone at risk of contracting Covid-19.
Carbonell is not the only athlete who has to choose between participating in competitions and continuing to breastfeed their children. In June, Canadian basketball player Kim Gaucher shared a similar view in an Instagram video.
“I was forced to choose between breastfeeding mothers or Olympic athletes,” Gao Xue said in the video.
